How to Double Space in Word

Discover how to properly double space in Word documents. This guide shows how to adjust line and paragraph spacing using Microsoft Word and Xodo DOCX Editor.

Double line spacing is a simple formatting change that can make a big difference for students, writers, and professionals. It improves readability, leaves space for comments or edits, and gives your document a cleaner layout.

The good news is that double spacing in Word is quick to apply, and there are several ways to do it.

This guide walks you through how to double space in Word using:

• The Microsoft Word toolbar
• Paragraph settings in Word
• A quick keyboard shortcut
• Xodo DOCX Editor
• Answers to common formatting questions

Let’s start with the basics and show how to adjust your spacing for a more readable document.

How to Double Space in Word

There are several ways to apply double spacing in Word, depending on how much control you need over formatting. Below are the most common methods.

Using the Microsoft Word toolbar

The fastest way to double space text is through the toolbar. This method is ideal for making quick edits.

1. Open your document.
2. Highlight the text you want to change, or place your cursor where new text should be double spaced.
3. Go to the Home tab.
4. Click the Line and Paragraph Spacing icon (it looks like horizontal lines with up and down arrows).
5. Select 2.0 from the dropdown list.
6. Save your Word document.

You’ll see the line spacing update immediately. This method is great for on the spot changes to get your lines separated. For more control, use the Paragraph dialog box.

Use the Paragraph dialog box in Microsoft Word

You can double space your document by going through the settings in the Paragraph dialog box. Here's how:

1. Open your Word document.
2. Highlight the portion of text you wish to change, or place the cursor where you want new text to have double spacing.
3. Click on the Home tab in Word.
4. Look for and click on the small arrow at the bottom-right corner of the "Paragraph" group.
5. In the “Spacing” section, go to the Line spacing option.
6. From the drop down menu, select Double. Click on OK to confirm.
7. Save your Word document to your device.

Your entire selected text or the whole document (if no text was selected) is now set to double spacing. If you want to update every paragraph's line spacing formatting, highlight everything (Ctrl + A on Windows, Command + A on Mac) before selecting the above option.

Pro Tip: You can also double space only a section of your document. Highlight the part you want to edit, repeat the steps, and choose Double for line spacing from the menu.

Use a Microsoft Word keyboard shortcut

If you prefer using shortcuts, this method is fast and efficient.

1. Open your document.
2. Select the text you want to adjust.
3. Press Ctrl + 2 (Windows) or Command + 2 (Mac).

After pressing those keys, the highlighted text spacing will change.

To return to single spacing, press Ctrl + 1 (Windows) or Command + 1 (Mac). On some Mac systems, keyboard settings may affect shortcut behavior, so test it first.

How to double space with Xodo DOCX editor

If you're working on a device without Microsoft Word installed, you can use Xodo DOCX Editor to adjust line spacing and format your document directly in your browser.

1. Open the Xodo DOCX Editor in your browser.
2. Upload your Word (.docx) file.
3. Highlight the text you want to change, or place your cursor where new content should have different spacing.
4. In the top menu, click on the Line & paragraph spacing icon (shown by lines with a vertical arrow beside them).
5. Click on Double from the drop down list.
6. Download your Word document to your device.

Xodo DOCX Editor is a secure, browser-based Word editor that processes files locally. You can use it to:

• Edit text and adjust formatting
• Insert images and tables
• Convert your Word file to PDF without leaving the editor

You can edit one DOCX file per day for free. To work on more documents, start a 7-day free trial for unlimited downloads, including access to over 30 additional PDF tools.

Commonly asked questions

Below are some questions that often come up about double line spacing in Word and related tools.

Why switch to double spacing?

Double spacing improves readability and leaves room for notes, comments or edits. It’s often required by academic institutions and preferred in collaborative environments where reviewers need space to mark up content.

Does double spacing affect page count?

Yes. Double spacing usually makes the document longer, which can be useful if you need to reach a target page requirement. If your layout looks off, use the Show/Hide toggle in Word to check for extra breaks or formatting issues.

Can I apply double spacing only to headings?

Yes. Highlight each heading and apply double spacing using the toolbar or Paragraph dialog box. You can leave body text in single spacing to keep the layout compact while making headings stand out.

How do I apply 1.5 spacing in Word?

Highlight your text, go to the Home tab, click the Line and Paragraph Spacing icon, and select 1.5 from the dropdown. You can also use the Paragraph dialog box for more control.

How does double spacing work with page numbers?

Double spacing affects the main body of the document. Page numbers in headers or footers keep their own formatting unless you manually change it.

For help with page numbers, see our guide: How to Add Page Numbers in Word. This helps you fix and control the look of each page without affecting the line spacing in the rest of the document.

How do I put space between bullet points in Word?

To add space between bullet points, highlight the list and open the Paragraph settings. Adjust the Spacing Before or Spacing After values to control the vertical space between items.

Can I combine double spacing with other formatting changes?

Yes. You can adjust line spacing along with indentation, alignment, and font styles.

Use the Paragraph dialog box to apply consistent formatting across sections. For mixed layouts, highlight only the parts you want to change.

What is the shortcut key to double space in Word?

Press Ctrl + 2 (Windows) or Command + 2 (Mac) to apply double spacing to selected text. To return to single spacing, use Ctrl + 1 or Command + 1.

Take your word document formatting to the next level

Double spacing is a simple way to improve readability and give your document a cleaner layout.

Whether you used Word’s built-in tools or made changes online with Xodo DOCX Editor, you now have flexible options for formatting any type of content.

You can apply double spacing to any document, from academic papers and business reports to creative writing and personal projects.

Ready to transform your next document from cramped to crisp? Your improved document formatting starts now.